Fuso launches all-electric eCanter in Australia

In an Australian first, Fuso this week launched the first battery-electric truck onto the Australian market.

The truck is the eCanter which we drove in its testing phase back in October 2019.

And while this eCanter is essentially the same, it does differ in that it offers a full suite of safety features just like its diesel-powered siblings.

The eCanter is the first Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) all-electric truck available in Australia and will be supported by select Fuso eMobility dealers.

Developed with the global engineering might of Daimler, the eCanter became the world’s first small series electric production truck in 2017.

It has been the subject of a rigorous testing regime around the world, including a six-month Australian test running with a maximum load, while global customers have covered more than three million kilometres of real-world driving.

Speaking at the launch in Melbourne this week, Daimler Truck and Bus President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, said the launch of the eCanter in Australia is a momentous occasion.

“This is a significant milestone for Australian transport and represents a big step towards carbon neutral transportation in this country, which benefits everyone,” Mr Whitehead said.

Fuso Truck and Bus Australia Director, Alex Müller, said he is excited to be able to offer the eCanter to Australian customers.

“The eCanter is perfect for emission-sensitive areas in our big cities, where many pedestrians and residents stand to benefit, but it is not just a concept truck or environmental tribute,” he said.

“It is a serious truck with a payload of more than four tonnes and it gets the job done day and night.”

The eCanter is equipped with active safety features such as autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and lane departure warning, which are increasingly important for companies and government bodies with a firm focus on health and safety.

“By their very nature, electric trucks operate in high-density urban areas, so active safety systems are more important than ever,” said Mr Müller.

The eCanter has a range of more than 100km when fully loaded, and can be recharged to 80 per cent capacity in an hour using a 50kW rapid charger or fully charged in 90 minutes. This makes it ideal for set loops in big cities, where the truck’s zero emissions and near-silent operation will be appreciated.

At the launch Mr Whitehead would not be drawn on which company was the first to sign on the dotted line for the eCanter, but we suggest that those trucks might be painted red and deliver parcels...

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However, he added that there are quite a few large companies who have put their hands up for the electric trucks.

Mr Whitehead said that the trucks would not be specifically for sale but would be leased to the companies over a period of six years with updates supplied to the lessees as they become available.

Fuso will consult with customers and advise them on the optimal charging infrastructure for their specific needs.

Given the global popularity of the eCanter, a limited number will be available for customers in Australia during the initial stages of the introduction but production availability is expected to increase in time.

Daimler Trucks aims to have all new vehicles in Europe, North America, and Japan "tank-to-wheel" CO2-neutral by 2039.

“Our leading customers in Australia want reduced emissions and advanced safety and Daimler Truck and Bus is committed to lead the market in delivering both,” Mr Whitehead said.

He added that at the moment, Daimler Trucks has ten models either under development, in customer trials or in series production. These include the Freightliner eCascadia, Mercedes-Benz eActros for the long-haul sector, Mercedes-Benz eEconic for the refuse market, Freightliner eM2 rigid truck, and the Fuso eCanter F-CELL.

Asked if he’d like to be first to market with other electric or fuel-cell vehicles, Mr Whitehead was emphatic: “Certainly we would like to be first in other market sectors; it’s easier being first rather than trying to catch up to the other guys if they’re first,” he said.

The eCanter is powered by six liquid-cooled lithium ion batteries mounted in the frame that store 82.8kW/h of electricity (with 66kW/h of usable power) and feed a permanent magnet synchronous motor. Power output is rated at 135kW and 390Nm of torque can be delivered the moment the accelerator pedal is pressed.

While the regular Australian diesel Canters are produced in Fuso’s Kawasaki plant in Japan, Australian eCanters are made at the Tramagal factory in Portugal.

Like all 4x2 Canters the eCanter also features electronic stability control, hill start, a reversing camera and driver and passenger airbags, in addition to the advanced emergency braking system and lane departure warning.

The cabin will be familiar to drivers of the regular Canter, but features a unique instrument cluster that shows the vehicle range and how much energy is being recouped through regenerative braking when the vehicle slows. It also features an ISRI suspension driver’s seat that is unique to eCanter.

The eCanter will feature on the Daimler stand at the Brisbane Truck Show to be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 13 to 16.

Model: 4x2 Wide Cab
Drive system: Permanent synchronous electric motor
Power: 135kW
Torque: 390Nm (from standstill)
Transmission: Direct drive automatic
Wheelbase: 3400mm
Cab type: Wide Cab (2m wide)
Front suspension: Multi-leaf with stabiliser bar and double-acting shock absorbers
Rear suspension: Semi-elliptic with stabiliser bar
Steering: Power-assisted integral ball and nut
Brakes: Front and rear disc with regenerative braking
Tyres and wheels: 205/75R17.5
Tare weight: 3280kg
GVM: 7490kg
Max people: Three (including driver)
Top speed: 80km/h
Range: Around 100km loaded
Charging time: DC (Level 3) 1 to 1.5 hours using CCS Type2 plug type and 50kW charger and AC (Level 2) 8 to 10 hours using IEC62196 7.2kW with three-phase wall connector
High voltage system: 365-Volt using six liquid-cooled lithium-ion batteries. Total usable capacity is 66kWh, total capacity is 82.8kW/h
Low voltage system: 12-Volt using two 100AH-760A lead acid batteries
Active safety features: Advanced Emergency Braking (AEBS), Anti-Slip Regulator (ASR), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) ABS plus Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
Passive safety features: Dual SRS Airbag and ECE-R29 Compliant cab
Warranty: Five years or 180,000km, whichever comes first